Brother Darryl told 250 grieving family and friends: "Over the past few years she made a few decisions that raised eyebrows but that’s when family is most needed. “We were starting to see light again after what had been a difficult time."

He added that his sister had a "vibrancy and zest for life” that would never be forgotten, telling guests: “She would always fight our corner and always stand up if she thought someone was trying to take advantage of us. “We watched her grow from a slip of a girl to a confident achiever and a beautiful woman.”

Mourners arrived at the church, where Ms Williamson was in a community choir, as a keyboard player and cellist performed a version of Linkin Park hit Numb.

Comedian Claire Jones, who appeared in the Brides of Comedy stage show with Ms Williamson, said: “She loved real characters. The more weird, the better.

"If you considered yourself really odd, she probably enjoyed you the most.”

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The coffin was covered in pink flowers in memory of PaulaCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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Paula's funeral paid tribute to her flamboyant personalityCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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The horse and carriage procession included bright pink feathersCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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The service heard stories about Paula's love of oddballsCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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Mourners carried cat food into the funeralCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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The coffin is taken from the church this afternoonCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

It comes after Bronson said he would not attend the service, previously saying he wanted to "avoid the media circus".

The notorious lag - who has been behind bars for the past 44 years - had previously revealed hopes he would be able to attend the funeral.

Yet he later said the service at the St Saviour's Smallthorne parish should be a private affair.

Writing in a letter ahead of the funeral, he said he was "truly shocked" about her death.

He said: "A funeral should be a private thing and my presence there would only turn it into a media circus and I'm sure her family and friends don't want that."

The bare-knuckle boxer also denied the suggestion he'd applied for permission to go to her funeral.

Any prisoner can apply for a special purposes licence to leave jail for a maximum of four nights for a funeral, marriage or medical treatment.

A funeral should be a private thing and my presence there would only turn it into a media circus and I'm sure her family and friends don't want that

Charles Bronson

However, Bronson was unlikely to have been granted permission due to his extensive violent history at HMP Woodhill.

Bronson said his new relationship wasn't the reason behind her death, saying: "She'd found someone else too and had even shown me photos of the matching tattoos she'd had done with her new geezer."

The 38-year-old's body was found after announcing she had applied to have her marriage to Britain's most violent lag annulled.

FINAL FAREWELL

The young woman had tragically given her heartbroken mum Hazel instructions for her funeral, saying she would inevitably die young.

In her will, she said she wanted an open casket at her funeral and for her coffin to be taken to the crematorium in a horse-drawn carriage.

The sombre service was occasionally broken by laughter as pals remembered the actress.

In one anecdote, comedian Claire Jones told how the budding comics sent letters to stars outlining why they should be friends with the pair.

Of one letter sent to funnyman Paddy McGuinness, Ms Jones said: “We felt he was better suited to Paula and to live a life with two pugs and a tribe of cats.

“Needless to say, he didn’t get back to us. “Paul Whitehouse did - unfortunately Paula missed the call because she was on the toilet. “We were kids/full grown adults just taking the mick and having fun.

"One of the best things was seeing Paula laugh until she wet herself.”

During the standing-room only service, Father Andrew Swift told mourners, including Ms Williamson’s mum Hazel and dad Clive: “Death sucks.

"You don’t need me to tell you that death is hard. Death is painful for those who are mourning and it would be disingenuous for me to tell you otherwise.”

Her spokesman said: "The funeral itself will be as flamboyant as her life was. She had many ups and downs but we'll be there to celebrate her life."

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The service was held in Stoke this afternoonCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

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Bronson included this poem in his letter

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The criminal has won awards for his 'outsider art' in the past and changed his surname to 'Salvador' in honour of Salvador Dali, one of his favourite artists

Britain's most notorious lag - how Bronson gained his grisly nickname

Armed robber Bronson has spent more than 44 years behind bars after repeatedly having his sentence increased for attacking prison staff and taking them hostage.

Writing in his 2000 book Bronson, he said: "I'm a nice guy, but sometimes I lose all my senses and become nasty. That doesn't make me evil, just confused".

He was first sentenced to seven years in jail over an armed robbery in 1974.

That was extended by nine months after he attacked a fellow prisoner with a glass jug.

He was then given an extra year in jail for holding a three-day rooftop protest that cost £100,000 in damages.

After a brief stint of freedom, he was found guilty of intent to robbery and sentenced to eight years in 1992.

His sentence was extended by eight years after he held a prison staff member hostage.

He again became involved in a hostage situation, which again resulted in a sentence extension.

He was finally given a life sentence after kidnapping a prison teacher in 1999, with the violent lag investigated for a number of other disturbances since, including allegedly throwing a bottle of human waste at a Muslim prisoner.

An inquest heard she had been found on July 30 by her new partner, sick and unconscious with "two small bags of white powder stuck to her."

Partner Peter Jones previously told The Sun Online how he found Paula, saying he tried to kiss her awake.

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